PA Voter ID Law

This page is your guide to the Pennsylvania Voter ID Law. Information provided by the Committee of Seventy and the Pennsylvania Voter ID Coalition.

The Voter ID law will not be in effect for the May 21 primary.  Poll workers may ask you to for photo ID, but you are not required to show it in order to vote.  Individuals voting for the first time or voting at a new polling place must show either photo or non-photo ID. 


Voter id exit poll survey

On November 6 the Committee of Seventy and the PA Voter ID Coalition conducted a short survey to get a sense of whether voters would have been prepared to comply with the Pennsylvania Voter ID law and if polling place workers carried out the "soft roll-out" of the law.  Read our report to see the results of the survey.  Additional materials found in Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C.


Voter ID Law Legal Challenge

Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Decision: Supplemental Determination on Preliminary Injunction (10/2/12)

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Decision: Applewhite v The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (9/18/12)

Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Decision: Applewhite v The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (8/15/12)


Voter Education Campaign Field Materials

Voter ID Law Handbook for Speakers/Trainers (March 18, 2013) Download (PDF)

Applications/Forms for Department of State ID Card for Voting

Application for Department of State Voter ID Card
Affirmation for Voters who do not Possess Proof of ID for Voting Purposes
Proof of Residence Verification Form for Department of State Voter ID Card
Q&A for New DOS ID
Fact Sheet for New DOS ID


Applications/Forms for PennDOT Photo Identification Card

Form DL54-A (Application for Photo Identification Card) Download (PDF)
Oath/Affirmation That Voter Does Not Possess Proof of Identification for Voting Purposes Download (PDF)
Form HD01564F (Birth record request from Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records) Download (PDF)


About the Pennsylvania Voter ID Coalition

The Pennsylvania Voter ID Coalition convened in March, 2012 to prepare Pennsylvanians to vote under the state's new voter ID law, which went into full effect following the November 6, 2012 General Election. Click here for a list of coalition members. Committee of Seventy is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that has been fighting for fair elections and informed citizens for over 100 years.

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